Agricultural Machine Driver Assistance System Priority Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Self-propelled agricultural working machines face challenges in achieving high operational efficiency while maintaining operational reliability due to high sensitivity of sensor arrangements leading to frequent unnecessary service interruptions and reduced efficiency, and low sensitivity resulting in impaired reliability, with imminent collisions causing unnecessary standstills.

Innovation Solution

Assigning urgency levels to environmental information allows the driver assistance system to prioritize and intensity control actions, using a combination of sensors such as normal light and thermal cameras to differentiate object categories and types, enabling timely and appropriate reactions to environmental objects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the sensitivity of the sensor arrangement is increased to achieve high operational reliability, then collision detection capability is improved, but the error detection rate increases leading to frequent unnecessary service interruptions and reduced operational efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational reliabilityVSAvoidoperational efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of sensitivity threshold dynamically by introducing urgency levels. Instead of using a single high sensitivity threshold that causes false alarms, the system adjusts the effective sensitivity based on the urgency level assigned to each detected object, allowing high sensitivity only when truly necessary while maintaining operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies different sensitivity levels locally to different detected objects based on their urgency classification. Critical objects (e.g., persons, animals) trigger high sensitivity responses, while non-critical objects (e.g., stationary equipment, terrain features) trigger low sensitivity or no response, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If the sensitivity of the sensor arrangement is decreased to reduce unnecessary service interruptions and improve operational efficiency, then operational efficiency is improved, but the reliability of the sensor arrangement deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidsensor reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the sensitivity parameter based on the urgency level of detected objects. For high-urgency objects, the system maintains high sensitivity to ensure reliable detection, while for low-urgency objects, it reduces sensitivity to avoid false alarms, thus maintaining both reliability and operational efficiency simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system transforms the static sensitivity setting into a dynamic parameter that adapts to different operational contexts. The urgency level assignment creates a dynamic response mechanism where sensitivity is adjusted in real-time based on the detected object's characteristics, ensuring reliable detection when needed while maintaining efficiency during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the driver assistance system responds to all detected environmental objects with high priority control actions, then operational safety is improved, but unnecessary standstills occur reducing operational efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational safetyVSAvoidoperational efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different priority levels locally to different detected objects. Critical safety-related objects (persons, animals, moving vehicles) receive high priority control actions, while non-critical objects (stationary equipment, terrain features, debris) receive low priority or no control actions, thereby ensuring safety without causing unnecessary standstills.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the response priority parameter based on the urgency level of each detected object. Instead of uniformly applying high priority to all detections, the system adjusts the priority parameter dynamically, assigning high priority only to objects that pose genuine safety risks, thus maintaining safety while preserving operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enhances operational safety and efficiency by allowing the system to react promptly to urgent situations while postponing reactions to less urgent information, ensuring high operational reliability and efficiency by prioritizing control actions based on urgency levels.

Implementation Method 1

a further sensor arrangement (10) which generates first sensor information (16-19) about a surrounding object (20, 21) in the surrounding area (27) of the working machine (1)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation detection: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 2

a first sensor arrangement (10) which generates first sensor information (16-19) about a surrounding object (20, 21) in the surrounding area (27) of the working machine (1)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection detection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3150056B1Self-propelled agricultural machine
Publication Date: 2019.12.04 CLAAS E SYSTEMS GMBH
  • EP3150056B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3150056B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3150056B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a self-propelled agricultural machine with at least one working element (3-8), in particular a drive unit (3), and with a driver assistance system (9) for generating control actions within the machine (1), wherein a sensor arrangement (10) is provided for generating environmental information (11-14), and wherein the driver assistance system (9) generates the control actions based on the environmental information (11-14). It is proposed that the driver assistance system (9) assigns a priority level (35-38) to each piece of environmental information (11-14) and generates the control actions based on the environmental information (11-14) and the respective assigned priority levels (35-38).